Thomas o brien



Nrrnn firarns PATENT @rrrcn.

THOMAS OBRIEN, OF N ElV YORK, N. Y.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 399,774, dated March19, 1.889. 7 Application filed August 2, 1888. Serial No. 281,817. I (Nomodel.)

To all whom it 'nw/y concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tandem Bicycles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of these improvements is to lessen vibration to the rider,and to render the machine compact for transportation and storage by afolding mechanism without detriment to its efliciency, and, bysubstituting an interchangeable part in which the seat and handlebar areon the steering-rod, the rider may steer with his feet, if so disposed.Springbars to absorb vibration and sustain the halidle-bars andsteering-rod are introduced, and the steering is accomplished by meansof a combination with mud-guard and connectingrods, which are free onthe axle of the steering-wheel.

The folding and steering mechanism of this machine is adapted to manyother kinds of velocipedes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved tandem bicycle.Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. is an interchangeable part having thesaddle and handle bars on the steering-rod. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionof the mechanism for folding and for locking the machine rigidly forriding; and Fig. 5 is a downward view of the spring-bars andconi'iecting-sleeves, between which the steeringrod passes.

The wheels A B, their axles and bearings, are of the usual character,the driving-gear consisting of the sprocket-wheels a a a a chains 7) b,and pedals c e, and maybe similar to any of those now in general use. Tothe quadrant-spine m over the front part of the steering-wheel andcarrying the seat and handle-bars and chain-wheel, (claims for whichhaving been allowed to me in Patent No. 386,601,) no further referenceneed be made.

In my improved bicycle the vertical tube (Z, Fig. 1, is adapted toreceive within it the lower part of the tube (1, and the lower end ofthis tube cl has a short bolt having a shoulder-head,15, (see Fig. l,)between which and the end of the tube d is placed the forward part ofthe forks II, which are inclined backwardly and form an angle with theforks H, or both may be of one piece and bent where they are fastened tothe bearings on the axle of the wheel B, and the upper ends of the forksH are firmly secured on a bolt, F, between the jaws of the clamping-ringF. Backwardly of the tube (7 on the forks H are sliding bearings G,which carry the shaft G, which latter carries the chain-wheel a thepedal-cranks G and the brake G and the said sliding bearings G areforged to split elan'lping-rings, 16 (see Fig. 4,) which are adjustableon the forks II, and afford a perfect adjustment of the chain.

Connecting and firmly secured to the tube (Z and neck Z are spring-barst' 1', having connecting-sleeves .2, between which passes thesteering-rod 0-, outside of which is the sockettube 70, which is securedon top of the sleeves .2 and at the upper end by the arm t". The

braces c c are secured to the arm i", sleeves .2,

and to an adjustable ring at the bottom of the tube (Z. On the tube (1at 4; is forged a sleeve, on which is a screw-thread, and fitted thereonare the nuts 5, and by screwing down these nuts the lugs 3 are securedin the cavities made to receive them, and by this means the foldingframe is made rigid. The upper end of the tube d is made to receive thesaddle-rodp, and the said rod when adjusted is clamped securely by theclamping-ring p. The brake G is placed on the shaft G of the chain-wheela and a chain-rod is carried from the top of said brake to the lever 18on the handle-bar 10. To the bottom of the steering-rod 'r is securedthe mud-guard m, and the latter works on a pin at the end of the forksc, the said forks being free on the axle of the steering-wheel. By thismeans the steering-wheel is under easy control, free from vibration tothe arms, and free from tube 7; the steering-rod a is curved backwardly,and there is a sleeve, R the rear end of which is split and shapedaround the split bush B, so as to form a clamping-ring and collars R andwithin these the split bush R is pinned and within the latter passes thesaddle-rod p, and made fast when adjusted. Upon the tube or sleeve Bthere is a vertical clamping-ring, Q, having a Vertical-rod, Q, uponwhich the tube 1; of the handle-bar a: is adjustable and made fast bythe set-screw y.

1% is a foot-rest secured on the mud-guard m The mud-guard 20 issecuredto the forks H and to the braces 19, which latter are made fast on theforks H.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, in a bicycle, with thewheels A B, of a frame composed of the tube d, the forks H H, tube (1,the arm '0', the

tube K, the spring-bars i 2', and the bracingrods 0 c, the whole forminga bridge free from vibration, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a bicycle, with the wheels A B and theconnecting-frame, of the tube (1, which receives the tube (1', thethreaded sleeve 4, and the nuts 5, whereby the folding mechanism is maderigid or loose, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in a bicycle, with the wheels A B and theconnecting-frame, of two spring-bars, i 1', between which passes thesteering-rod o", the mud-guard m and the rods 0, which are free on theaxle of the steering-wheel, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 31st day of July, 1888.

THOMAS OBRIEN.

Witnesses:

WM. A. Lown, GRANT SQUIRES.

